How I'm Staying Fit and Healthy During Lockdown

Now that we're all self-isolating, it's interesting to gain an insight into what other people are doing to remain productive, be positive, keep fit and stay healthy. This is an honest post that I am writing straight off the top of my head, so let's see how it goes.
How am I staying fit and healthy during lockdown? Well I'm not! Or rather, I'm not doing anything different to how I usually live. But before you give up on this blog post, I can assure you that as someone who has worked from home for over ten years and is also a qualified fitness instructor, this blog post is full of little gems of tips and information that you're sure to value!

What Self-Isolation Looks Like for Me

I have been working from home for around 11 years now, minus a short break of 6 months when I took on a full-time role alongside running my own business. Spending large amounts of my time at home is quite normal for me. However, that isn't to say that I don't like going out, getting some fresh air and having structure in my day. Since we've been self-isolating, I've stocked the fridge and freezer with fresh produce and frozen greens, along with other healthy foods. Apart from the fact that we're not allowed to go out if it's not essential or socialise with others, I'm not really noticing much difference if I'm completely honest. Work is going really well, which I feel a bit uneasy talking about at the moment, considering the current financial climate. I'm using my extra time at home productively to keep the household in order and to make more progress in my work. I take my dog out for a walk twice a day and I really look forward to these outings. When I'm not working or entertaining Minnie, I use social media to catch up with friends and family. I clean the house regularly and cook nutritious homemade meals, which is keeping me both active and healthy.
 

Why I Quit the Gym a Couple of Years Ago

I've always been a very active person and for many years I worked out on a regular basis. When I say worked out I mean waking up at 5am to do a 5-10km run, followed by an afternoon Insanity workout. But as I became busier with work, fitting in time to workout became more of a chore and I found that balancing everything was becoming increasingly stressful. Before I decided to quit the gym and traditional workouts, I found that I was actually gaining weight. I think this is quite a common case among those who feel as though they have to workout, even if it's not enjoyable. To overcome the stress of working out for at least 30 minutes a day on top of everything else that I had to juggle in my personal and working life, I would allow myself more treats - treats I usually wouldn't bother with if I didn't feel obliged to workout so much. After allowing myself to quit gruelling workouts in favour of incorporating exercise into my daily life, I felt much better and have managed to maintain the same weight and positive mindset ever since. Seeing as I don't need to lose weight or reach a certain level of fitness, keeping myself busy with domestic chores can be just as beneficial as going to the gym.

How I'm Staying Fit and Healthy During Lockdown

They say that abs are made in the kitchen and that fitness is 80% about nutrition and 20% exercise. I absolutely agree with this statement. I can't remember the last time I ate a convenience meal. Cooking isn't my favourite thing to do, but it gives me a break from the computer and gets me moving around. Making breakfast, lunch and dinner using fresh ingredients takes more time admittedly, but it also means that you're fueling your body with the required vitamins and nutrients your body needs to function properly. Therefore I personally don't need to take any additional supplements.
I've spent a lot of time travelling and experiencing different cultures and what I really notice about returning to the UK is the fast food and conveniently-prepared ingredients on hand. Don't get me wrong, this is blissful when you're short on time, but it also takes a lot of the manual work out of cooking. Compared to other countries I've visited and lived in, the western world has a gadget for absolutely everything - from hoovering to cake-making. Want a simple solution for factoring in your daily exercise? Ditch the vacuuming robot and the cake mixer and instead, use some elbow grease to complete the tasks yourself! When it comes to household appliances, I really appreciate being able to throw items in the washing machine at the end of the day and how hygienic it is compared to hand washing. However, I do like to go back to basics with domestic chores by incorporating them into my exercise regime. Again, there are other things I'd rather be doing than cleaning, but it needs to be done and once I've finished I can see visible results from my efforts. Plus, completing a thorough cleaning of my home ticks off two tasks that need to be done: domestic chores and my daily exercise.
I have to admit that being in lockdown has made me more conscious of what I'm consuming and I have been looking into ways in which I can pack in more vitamins through the foods and beverages I consume. One of my favourite drinks at the moment is my lemon and ginger infused water (see above in the picture). It resembles a refreshing cocktail if presented right and garnished with a few fresh mint leaves. Yet it's homemade, free from additives and packed with goodness.
 
My health and fitness plan won't work for everyone and this post isn't intended to advise you on your personal goals. But this is what works for me and it's merely my very honest insight into how I'm keeping active and staying healthy during this time of lockdown and pretty much all other times.
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